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Beached beluga whales

Barbara Mahoney, National Marine Fisheries Service biologist, begins work to harvest samples from one of two dead beluga whales on the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge on Tuesday, May 27, 2014, below and northwest of the Kincaid Park motocross track.

Researchers begin collecting samples from a beluga whale on the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge on Tuesday, May 27, 2014, below and northwest of the Kincaid Park motocross track. Two dead beluga whales were found on the shoreline Monday evening and reported to authorities.

Dylan Peterson of Alaska Veterinary Pathology Services helps cut up one of two dead beluga whales on the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge on Tuesday, May 27, 2014, below and northwest of the Kincaid Park motocross track.

Barbara Mahoney, National Marine Fisheries Service biologist, begins work to harvest samples from one of two dead beluga whales on the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge on Tuesday, May 27, 2014, below and northwest of the Kincaid Park motocross track.

Scientists collect samples from a beluga whale on the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge on Tuesday, May 27, 2014, below and northwest of the Kincaid Park motocross track. Two dead beluga whales were found on the shoreline Monday evening and reported to authorities. Blood from the whale spread down the beach before researchers arrived as avian scavengers had already begun working on the carcasses.

Dylan Peterson of Alaska Veterinary Pathology Services, left, and Alaska Pacific University graduate student Coral Pasi work to harvest samples from one of two dead beluga whales on the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge on Tuesday, May 27, 2014, below and northwest of the Kincaid Park motocross track.

A beluga whale is secured against high tide about four hundred yards northwest of the another beluga whale on the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge on Tuesday, May 27, 2014, below and northwest of the Kincaid Park motocross track.

Scientists examine a beluga whale on the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge on Tuesday, May 27, 2014, below and northwest of the Kincaid Park motocross track. Two dead beluga whales were found on the shoreline Monday evening and reported to authorities.

Barbara Mahoney, National Marine Fisheries Service biologist, left, harvests samples from one of two dead beluga whales on the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge on Tuesday, May 27, 2014, below and northwest of the Kincaid Park motocross track.

Dylan Peterson of Alaska Veterinary Pathology Services, left, and Alaska Pacific University graduate student Coral Pasi strip skin and blubber off the carcass of one of two dead beluga whales on the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge on Tuesday, May 27, 2014, below and northwest of the Kincaid Park motocross track.

Barbara Mahoney, National Marine Fisheries Service biologist, begins work to harvest samples from one of two dead beluga whales on the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge on Tuesday, May 27, 2014, below and northwest of the Kincaid Park motocross track.

Dylan Peterson of Alaska Veterinary Pathology Services, left, Alaska Pacific University graduate student Coral Pasi, center, and National Marine Fisheries Service biologist Barbara Mahoney strip skin and blubber off the carcass of one of two dead beluga whales on the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge on Tuesday, May 27, 2014, below and northwest of the Kincaid Park motocross track.

A beluga whale is secured against high tide about four hundred yards northwest of the another beluga whale on the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge on Tuesday, May 27, 2014, below and northwest of the Kincaid Park motocross track.

Alaska Pacific University graduate student Coral Pasi bags a sample of blubber from the carcass of one of two dead beluga whales on the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge on Tuesday, May 27, 2014, below and northwest of the Kincaid Park motocross track.

National Marine Fisheries Service biologist Barbara Mahoney, left, Dylan Peterson of Alaska Veterinary Pathology Services, center, and Alaska Pacific University graduate student Coral Pasi, right, strip skin and blubber off the carcass of one of two dead beluga whales on the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge on Tuesday, May 27, 2014, below and northwest of the Kincaid Park motocross track. The second Beluga whale is in the distance.

Scientists take measurements as they examine a beluga whale on the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge on Tuesday, May 27, 2014, below and northwest of the Kincaid Park motocross track. Two dead beluga whales were found on the shoreline Monday evening and reported to authorities.

Barbara Mahoney, National Marine Fisheries Service biologist, works to harvest samples from one of two dead beluga whales on the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge on Tuesday, May 27, 2014, below and northwest of the Kincaid Park motocross track.

A beluga whale is secured against high tide about four hundred yards northwest of the another beluga whale on the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge on Tuesday, May 27, 2014, below and northwest of the Kincaid Park motocross track.

Kathy Collins of Friends of the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge pauses from hauling blubber to take a few photos of work being done on one of two dead beluga whales on the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge on Tuesday, May 27, 2014, below and northwest of the Kincaid Park motocross track.

Scientists examine a beluga whale on the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge on Tuesday, May 27, 2014, below and northwest of the Kincaid Park motocross track. Two dead beluga whales were found on the shoreline Monday evening and reported to authorities.

Barbara Mahoney, National Marine Fisheries Service biologist, begins work to harvest samples from one of two dead beluga whales on the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge on Tuesday, May 27, 2014, below and northwest of the Kincaid Park motocross track.

Researchers begin collecting samples from a beluga whale on the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge on Tuesday, May 27, 2014, below and northwest of the Kincaid Park motocross track. Two dead beluga whales were found on the shoreline Monday evening and reported to authorities.

Dylan Peterson of Alaska Veterinary Pathology Services helps cut up one of two dead beluga whales on the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge on Tuesday, May 27, 2014, below and northwest of the Kincaid Park motocross track.

Barbara Mahoney, National Marine Fisheries Service biologist, begins work to harvest samples from one of two dead beluga whales on the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge on Tuesday, May 27, 2014, below and northwest of the Kincaid Park motocross track.

Scientists collect samples from a beluga whale on the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge on Tuesday, May 27, 2014, below and northwest of the Kincaid Park motocross track. Two dead beluga whales were found on the shoreline Monday evening and reported to authorities. Blood from the whale spread down the beach before researchers arrived as avian scavengers had already begun working on the carcasses.

Dylan Peterson of Alaska Veterinary Pathology Services, left, and Alaska Pacific University graduate student Coral Pasi work to harvest samples from one of two dead beluga whales on the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge on Tuesday, May 27, 2014, below and northwest of the Kincaid Park motocross track.

A beluga whale is secured against high tide about four hundred yards northwest of the another beluga whale on the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge on Tuesday, May 27, 2014, below and northwest of the Kincaid Park motocross track.

Scientists examine a beluga whale on the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge on Tuesday, May 27, 2014, below and northwest of the Kincaid Park motocross track. Two dead beluga whales were found on the shoreline Monday evening and reported to authorities.

Barbara Mahoney, National Marine Fisheries Service biologist, left, harvests samples from one of two dead beluga whales on the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge on Tuesday, May 27, 2014, below and northwest of the Kincaid Park motocross track.

Dylan Peterson of Alaska Veterinary Pathology Services, left, and Alaska Pacific University graduate student Coral Pasi strip skin and blubber off the carcass of one of two dead beluga whales on the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge on Tuesday, May 27, 2014, below and northwest of the Kincaid Park motocross track.

Barbara Mahoney, National Marine Fisheries Service biologist, begins work to harvest samples from one of two dead beluga whales on the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge on Tuesday, May 27, 2014, below and northwest of the Kincaid Park motocross track.

Dylan Peterson of Alaska Veterinary Pathology Services, left, Alaska Pacific University graduate student Coral Pasi, center, and National Marine Fisheries Service biologist Barbara Mahoney strip skin and blubber off the carcass of one of two dead beluga whales on the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge on Tuesday, May 27, 2014, below and northwest of the Kincaid Park motocross track.

A beluga whale is secured against high tide about four hundred yards northwest of the another beluga whale on the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge on Tuesday, May 27, 2014, below and northwest of the Kincaid Park motocross track.

Alaska Pacific University graduate student Coral Pasi bags a sample of blubber from the carcass of one of two dead beluga whales on the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge on Tuesday, May 27, 2014, below and northwest of the Kincaid Park motocross track.

National Marine Fisheries Service biologist Barbara Mahoney, left, Dylan Peterson of Alaska Veterinary Pathology Services, center, and Alaska Pacific University graduate student Coral Pasi, right, strip skin and blubber off the carcass of one of two dead beluga whales on the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge on Tuesday, May 27, 2014, below and northwest of the Kincaid Park motocross track. The second Beluga whale is in the distance.

Scientists take measurements as they examine a beluga whale on the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge on Tuesday, May 27, 2014, below and northwest of the Kincaid Park motocross track. Two dead beluga whales were found on the shoreline Monday evening and reported to authorities.

Barbara Mahoney, National Marine Fisheries Service biologist, works to harvest samples from one of two dead beluga whales on the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge on Tuesday, May 27, 2014, below and northwest of the Kincaid Park motocross track.

A beluga whale is secured against high tide about four hundred yards northwest of the another beluga whale on the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge on Tuesday, May 27, 2014, below and northwest of the Kincaid Park motocross track.

Kathy Collins of Friends of the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge pauses from hauling blubber to take a few photos of work being done on one of two dead beluga whales on the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge on Tuesday, May 27, 2014, below and northwest of the Kincaid Park motocross track.

Scientists examine a beluga whale on the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge on Tuesday, May 27, 2014, below and northwest of the Kincaid Park motocross track. Two dead beluga whales were found on the shoreline Monday evening and reported to authorities.

Barbara Mahoney, National Marine Fisheries Service biologist, begins work to harvest samples from one of two dead beluga whales on the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge on Tuesday, May 27, 2014, below and northwest of the Kincaid Park motocross track.

Researchers begin collecting samples from a beluga whale on the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge on Tuesday, May 27, 2014, below and northwest of the Kincaid Park motocross track. Two dead beluga whales were found on the shoreline Monday evening and reported to authorities.

Dylan Peterson of Alaska Veterinary Pathology Services helps cut up one of two dead beluga whales on the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge on Tuesday, May 27, 2014, below and northwest of the Kincaid Park motocross track.

Barbara Mahoney, National Marine Fisheries Service biologist, begins work to harvest samples from one of two dead beluga whales on the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge on Tuesday, May 27, 2014, below and northwest of the Kincaid Park motocross track.

Scientists collect samples from a beluga whale on the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge on Tuesday, May 27, 2014, below and northwest of the Kincaid Park motocross track. Two dead beluga whales were found on the shoreline Monday evening and reported to authorities. Blood from the whale spread down the beach before researchers arrived as avian scavengers had already begun working on the carcasses.

Dylan Peterson of Alaska Veterinary Pathology Services, left, and Alaska Pacific University graduate student Coral Pasi work to harvest samples from one of two dead beluga whales on the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge on Tuesday, May 27, 2014, below and northwest of the Kincaid Park motocross track.

A beluga whale is secured against high tide about four hundred yards northwest of the another beluga whale on the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge on Tuesday, May 27, 2014, below and northwest of the Kincaid Park motocross track.

Scientists examine a beluga whale on the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge on Tuesday, May 27, 2014, below and northwest of the Kincaid Park motocross track. Two dead beluga whales were found on the shoreline Monday evening and reported to authorities.

Barbara Mahoney, National Marine Fisheries Service biologist, left, harvests samples from one of two dead beluga whales on the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge on Tuesday, May 27, 2014, below and northwest of the Kincaid Park motocross track.

Dylan Peterson of Alaska Veterinary Pathology Services, left, and Alaska Pacific University graduate student Coral Pasi strip skin and blubber off the carcass of one of two dead beluga whales on the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge on Tuesday, May 27, 2014, below and northwest of the Kincaid Park motocross track.

Barbara Mahoney, National Marine Fisheries Service biologist, begins work to harvest samples from one of two dead beluga whales on the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge on Tuesday, May 27, 2014, below and northwest of the Kincaid Park motocross track.

Dylan Peterson of Alaska Veterinary Pathology Services, left, Alaska Pacific University graduate student Coral Pasi, center, and National Marine Fisheries Service biologist Barbara Mahoney strip skin and blubber off the carcass of one of two dead beluga whales on the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge on Tuesday, May 27, 2014, below and northwest of the Kincaid Park motocross track.

A beluga whale is secured against high tide about four hundred yards northwest of the another beluga whale on the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge on Tuesday, May 27, 2014, below and northwest of the Kincaid Park motocross track.

Alaska Pacific University graduate student Coral Pasi bags a sample of blubber from the carcass of one of two dead beluga whales on the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge on Tuesday, May 27, 2014, below and northwest of the Kincaid Park motocross track.

National Marine Fisheries Service biologist Barbara Mahoney, left, Dylan Peterson of Alaska Veterinary Pathology Services, center, and Alaska Pacific University graduate student Coral Pasi, right, strip skin and blubber off the carcass of one of two dead beluga whales on the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge on Tuesday, May 27, 2014, below and northwest of the Kincaid Park motocross track. The second Beluga whale is in the distance.

Scientists take measurements as they examine a beluga whale on the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge on Tuesday, May 27, 2014, below and northwest of the Kincaid Park motocross track. Two dead beluga whales were found on the shoreline Monday evening and reported to authorities.

Barbara Mahoney, National Marine Fisheries Service biologist, works to harvest samples from one of two dead beluga whales on the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge on Tuesday, May 27, 2014, below and northwest of the Kincaid Park motocross track.

A beluga whale is secured against high tide about four hundred yards northwest of the another beluga whale on the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge on Tuesday, May 27, 2014, below and northwest of the Kincaid Park motocross track.

Kathy Collins of Friends of the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge pauses from hauling blubber to take a few photos of work being done on one of two dead beluga whales on the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge on Tuesday, May 27, 2014, below and northwest of the Kincaid Park motocross track.

Scientists examine a beluga whale on the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge on Tuesday, May 27, 2014, below and northwest of the Kincaid Park motocross track. Two dead beluga whales were found on the shoreline Monday evening and reported to authorities.